Hello,

Made a few changes and such.

What do you think?

On the last picture, the open "tunnel" things on the sides of the ship (under/behind cockpit) --> Should these be closed off? Perhaps put a turbine blade in them (like jets have?)

What should I change/add? This is still a rough model, I will add more smoothing/polygons where needed.

http://img27.imageshack.us/i/71716349.jpg/
http://img44.imageshack.us/i/81367590.jpg/
http://img44.imageshack.us/i/95088002.jpg/
http://img5.imageshack.us/i/71945763.jpg/

Thanks,
Brad/Xico

Are you thinking cockpit or no cockpit?

Also, this looks a bit like the big ship in Homeworld 2, doesn't it?

Never played homeworld, but feel free to post a picture of it, if you like.

Thanks,
Brad/Xico

(Re: Scartaris)

My requirements are far from "perfection". As I stated in the other thread (I linked to), it's just the level of "basic game industry art asset". It's also the level of what I can create, personally. So yes, my expectations are in-line with that, I don't think it's too misguided or wrong. Plus, it's problematic for me to "replace" existing ships at all, because of the degree of attachment to particular appearance or flight dynamics (see: Wraith).

Also, I have no problem with people re-creating "new" versions based on the collision hulls of existing designs. This is the best of both worlds.. a new interpretation of an "old" design, while keeping the flight and collision dynamics that people are used to (and some prefer). I was trying to get Luis to do that, before he flaked out (I have a half-finished Vulture from him). I am currently looking at providing the PCC with the effects/ship viewer package, I'll consider including some of the ship collision hulls with it.

Xico I really like that new ship. Much better looking than the previous model. Better edges and overall shape/styling. I honestly don't think your previous model could have been textured into looking useable, but this model looks great and if you can texture it up to par I think you have a shot. Inc's standards are high as they should be. VO's art assets are dated in a lot of ways and any effort expended to add new assets is only worth it if the assets are top quality.

Inc, quick question: Are you open to submitting other assets that aren't ships? Sky maps, planets, stations, etc?

Other assets have their own big bag of wacky requirements and training that go along with them. Ships are, at least, fairly "all encompassed" assets that can be make pretty independently. Skyboxes, for instance, really have to be prototyped in the engine, since our skyboxes are all assembled in real-time to various degrees of detail, based on the user's client configuration (hence, some people have spinning planets, other people have cooked-onto-background planets, etc). I don't even know how to use the thing, at present, and I'd definitely have re-learn and write some sort of (probably extensive) manual, as our tools can be both hilariously unintuitive, and totally undocumented

Stations are all constructed from a single set of specialized textures, both to reduce memory footprint in-game, and also to maintain a reasonable download size. Creating stations would really be better as an in-game feature, where you can "assemble" them, which is why we did it the way we did.. to allow player-created stations. Blah.

All assets could theoretically be contributed, and I'm not against it, but some are more complicated than others.

Some of the stuff that would be most useful, are the PCC projects like bringing the manual up to date, and creating a "Beginning VO" page that could be translated into several languages. These projects were both admirable, and both stalled after a few weeks. Not as sexy as making a new space station, but sure would go a long way for new players..

Is it possible to provide one of your finished studio max models with textures and everything else in place as reference? Might be helpful for building the model and texture files to spec.

Impavid -> I second that

Thanks,
Brad/Xico

i sense a new centurion or a vulture

Care to wager a million credits on that actually happening, Peypey?

Inc are you open to the slight possibility of user generated textures? One of the things that drives me nuts about some of the graphics in this game isn't so much the models (low poly is still a trade mark of many mmo's), but some of the textures are quite outdated, having been created before some of the newer technologies came about (normal mapping for instance I'm assuming).

I had been working on a new texture for the hog a while back, but the summer showed up and essentially put all my pet projects on hold. I would certainly be interested in submitting some work along those lines. I know they're a bitch to create, but on your end they may perhaps be a simpler thing to incorporate (not sure, I've never worked in the gaming industry)...

I don't have any problem with user-generated textures. But, like the ships, they would have to be completely prototyped by the player. I can't spent time cleaning stuff up, or explaining how shaders work, etc. Giving the tools for other people to do that would be part of the point of releasing the ship/effect viewer.

That would be very cool.

You could allow overriding textures from outside the media file again.

I want my flower gun back!
http://home.arcor.de/famscheffler/ven/flowergun-2.jpg
http://home.arcor.de/famscheffler/ven/dump0025.jpg

Still working on the model, but I like the basic shape and design.

Let me know what you think, want changed, etc.
http://img42.imageshack.us/i/29036909.jpg/
http://img33.imageshack.us/i/93182240.jpg/
http://img11.imageshack.us/i/19373756.jpg/
http://img147.imageshack.us/i/36262134.jpg/
http://img42.imageshack.us/i/18635765.jpg/

Far Away:
http://img38.imageshack.us/i/90222054.jpg/
http://img248.imageshack.us/i/31273665.jpg/

Thanks,
Brad/Xico

I like the style of the ship- but I think it would be an excellent idea to remake one of the vendetta ships (I'd suggest the warthog)

You could allow overriding textures from outside the media file again.

This was possible? Wouldn't this just essentially be skinning the game? Were there inherent security issues with this, or was it a performance issue? Either way it sounds like an amazing way to allow customized experiences.

Naw, I think he shouldn't completely alter the designs of the current ships, the hog is quite an iconic VO ship atm.
Well, they all are, but that's not the point!

Name Suggestion: Rapture

If you were to redesign a ship, redesign the Ragnaroc... that has got to be the single ugliest thing in the game.

Also, what about a multipurpose ship? A ship capable of speed trade and not combat per say but defending its self? Something that does not excel at in speed, arms/armor or cargo capacity but is at least appealing in those aspects.

Xico: Are you planning on having it that angular, or are smoothing groups still in progress?